University of Oklahoma Athletics

Saturday, October 10
Dallas, Texas
11:00 AM

University of Oklahoma

2-2 , 1-2

53
vs
45

Texas

2-2 , 1-2

Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
OT
OT
OT
Final F
Texas017014770045
Oklahoma107140770853
Photo by: Ty Russell

Sooners Down Horns in Four Overtimes

October 10, 2020 | Football

DALLAS – Spencer Rattler had quite the first experience in a most unusual version of the Red River rivalry.

The Oklahoma freshman threw a 25-yard scoring pass to Drake Stoops in the fourth overtime and the Sooners survived a late rally from No. 22 Texas in regulation for a 53-45 victory Saturday.

Rattler sat most of the second quarter in favor of Tanner Mordecai after an interception and a fumble, but came back with two of his three scoring passes in overtime as the Sooners (2-2, 1-2 Big 12) bounced back from their first back-to-back losses in the regular season since 1999.

"I thought Spencer did some good things early then had a couple plays that I didn't like," coach Lincoln Riley said. "I felt like Tanner would go play well. I also felt like it would help Spencer step back for a second and kind of see the whole thing a little bit and settle down, and I think that happened."

So much about one of college football's most unique settings was different because the pandemic reduced the crowd to 24,000 at the 93,000-seat Cotton Bowl and shut down the surrounding Texas state fair for the first time since World War II.

The dramatic ending was quite familiar.

Sam Ehlinger, who had a career-high four rushing touchdowns, threw two TD passes in the final 3:28 of regulation after what appeared to be a game-sealing interception by Woodi Washington in the end zone with the Sooners leading 31-17 with five minutes remaining.

But Ehlinger's pass was intercepted in end zone by Tre Brown after Rattler's toss to former OU coach Bob Stoops' son, leaving the senior with a 1-4 record against his biggest rival, including a loss in the 2018 Big 12 championship game.

The Longhorns (2-2, 1-2) also left themselves little hope of playing for a Big 12 title, much less being part of the College Football Playoff conversation.

"We showed the football team we are there at the end when we stay out of our own way, without penalties, a lot of different things, mistakes that are self-inflicted," said Ehlinger, who threw 53 passes and had 23 carries for a career-high 112 yards. "It's unfortunate. We've got to get better."

After tossing a 2-yard score to Keaontay Ingram with 14 seconds left in regulation, Ehlinger opened overtime with his third rushing TD, from 3 yards.

Rattler answered with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Austin Stogner, then plunged over from the half-yard line on fourth down after his initial scoring run was overturned on review to start the second OT.

Ehlinger's fourth rushing TD forced the third overtime, when Texas' Cameron Dicker had a 33-yard field goal try blocked by Perrion Winfrey before OU's Gabe Brkic missed wide right from 31 on second down.

Rattler was replaced by Mordecai in the second quarter after losing a fumble on a sack at the Oklahoma 19 to set up the first Texas touchdown. His interception was thrown directly to waiting linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who returned it to the Oklahoma 11. The Sooners held Texas to a field goal.

It was hard to tell if Rattler came out because of an injury or ineffectiveness. He was holding his helmet on the sideline, rubbing and shaking his right arm.

"I was kind of surprised when I came out at first," said Rattler, who was tied for the Big 12 lead with four interceptions coming in. "Coach Riley told me to take a breather, you are going to get back in there. My arm was bugging me too."

Rattler was 23 of 35 for 209 yards, and T.J. Pledger rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Ehlinger threw for 287 yards, while his top three running backs — Ingram, Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson — combined for just 11 carries and 29 yards.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Consecutive Big 12 losses, the first for Oklahoma since 1998, sent the Sooners tumbling from No. 3 to out of the poll for the first time since 2016. They could get back in now. The Longhorns are likely on their way back out after a second straight loss.

THE TAKEAWAY

Oklahoma: Riley never had to think much about replacing his quarterback the past three seasons, with Heisman Trophy-winning and No. 1 overall NFL draft picks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, followed by Jalen Hurts. But he didn't hesitate with Rattler, saying Mordecai had been playing well in practice and deserved a look.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma enters a bye week before facing TCU on Saturday, Oct. 24 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Next Event

TCU
W, 33-14

Oct 24 (Sat)

11:00 AM

Team Stats

UT
OU
Total Yards
428
469
Pass Yards
287
261
Rushing Yards
141
208
Penalty Yards
86
121
1st Downs
27
30
3rd Downs
6
8
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
23:56
36:04
1st Quarter
Logo

UT 0, OU 3

OU - Brkic, Gabe 19 yd field goal 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 3:17

Logo

UT 0, OU 10

OU - Mims, Marvin 30 yd pass from Rattler, S. (Brkic, Gabe kick) 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:33

2nd Quarter
Logo

UT 3, OU 10

UT - Dicker,Cameron 34 yd field goal 4 plays, -5 yards, TOP 1:20

Logo

UT 10, OU 10

UT - Ehlinger,Sam 6 yd run (Dicker,Cameron kick), 2 plays, 19 yards, TOP 0:47

Logo

UT 10, OU 17

OU - Major, Marcus 7 yd run (Brkic, Gabe kick), 5 plays, 20 yards, TOP 2:07

Logo

UT 17, OU 17

UT - Ehlinger,Sam 2 yd run (Dicker,Cameron kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:44

3rd Quarter
Logo

UT 17, OU 24

OU - Pledger, T.J. 2 yd run (Brkic, Gabe kick), 3 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:22

Logo

UT 17, OU 31

OU - Pledger, T.J. 1 yd run (Brkic, Gabe kick), 17 plays, 87 yards, TOP 8:07

4th Quarter
Logo

UT 24, OU 31

UT - Moore,Joshua 9 yd pass from Ehlinger,Sam (Dicker,Cameron kick) 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:10

Logo

UT 31, OU 31

UT - Ingram,Keaontay 2 yd pass from Ehlinger,Sam (Dicker,Cameron kick) 8 plays, 84 yards, TOP 1:38

OT Quarter
Logo

UT 38, OU 31

UT - Ehlinger,Sam 3 yd run (Dicker,Cameron kick), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00

Logo

UT 38, OU 38

OU - Stogner, Austin 11 yd pass from Rattler, S. (Brkic, Gabe kick) 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00

Logo

UT 38, OU 45

OU - Rattler, S. 1 yd run (Brkic, Gabe kick), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00

Logo

UT 45, OU 45

UT - Ehlinger,Sam 25 yd run (Dicker,Cameron kick), 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00

Logo

UT 45, OU 53

OU - Stoops, Drake 25 yd pass from Rattler, S. (Wease, Theo pass) 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00

Game Leaders

CMP
23
TD
3
YDS
209
INT
1
CMP
5
TD
0
YDS
52
INT
0

Players Mentioned

K/P
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CB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
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QB
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TE/H-B
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WR
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CB
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DL
/ Football
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